Phonograph.



G. H. UN DERHILL.

PHONOGRAPH.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, I906. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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G. H. UNDERHILL.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FI'LED FEB, 16, I906.

Nov. 2, 1915.

Patenteti Z SHEETS SHEP 2 INVENTU R 2/, 3/

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GEORGE H. UNDERHILL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PHONOGRAPH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ov. 2, 1915.

Application filed February 16, 1906. Serial N 0. 301,339.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. UNDER- HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bostonfin the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Phonograph's, of which the I following description, in connectionwith the p y g ings, is a. specification,

like letters on thedrawings representing like 10 parts.

My invention consists in improvements in sound reproducing or sound recording ma ..chines. v

Many features of my invention have use 1 ful application to various types of such mavertical section partially broken away, showingthe principal operating parts of aphonophone type,

in its generic sense to signify a machine of any type for producing or reproducing sounds, it being immaterial whether such machine is of the graphophone or gramo- & or Whether it employs cylindrical, disk or other records.

The several records are held in a holding device B, of any suitable form or constructlon. In the described form of my invention the holding device B is provided with a fiat and rigid base 6, the lateral edges of which rest "upon sets of flanged roller supports 1),

f journaled at either side and either end of the frame A of the machine Figs. 1 and 4) and along which the holder may be intermitpreferablyfof a height insufficient to cover chines, including those employing. but av s'in tentlyinoved While guided thereby for the gle record, but my invention is particularly playing of the successive records. applicable and is herein illustrated-with ref-' 4 The base of the holder is provided with a erence to one type of multiple record-"ma bottom 6 preferably formed with corru- 2 chine employing a plurality of cylindrical gations or otherwise, to provide suitable records adap d automatically and succes-' separate compartments for the several cy-.- sively to be brought'into reproducing. or relindrical record shells, which, as shown in cording, relation with reference to suitable Fig. 4,-rest in the separate" depressions of reproducing or recording mechanism, the thefcorrugated bottom. strip 6 The cor- 25 latter being caused automatically to traverse rugated strip 6 may be of sheet metal or v the face of each record as the same is prepa'pier mich .or any other suitable material, sented. U 'ahd is preferably lined with felt, or other My invention will be best understood by} "soft substance to prevent injury to the recreference to the following description when ord surfaces. At each side of the bottom 30 taken .in connection with the accompanying strip' 6 Where the depressions or corrugaillustration of one specific embodiment, tions are formed, there is a provided a small which, it will be understood, represents but up-turned lip or flange b which overlies the a single form thereof, while its scope. will. end oftherecord, preventing thereby material be'more particularly pointed out in the aplongitudinal displacement of the same, such 35 pended claims. flange, however, in this particular type of In the drawings,'Figure 1 is a central machine, forapurpose to be described, being any portion of the open end of the record sleeve. Engagingwith the upper edges of the base plate I), are guide rollers b, which cooperate with the rollers b, to keep the graph embodying one form of my inven 9 tion; Fig. 2 is a plan showing principally the sound box traversing mechanism in the 5 phonograph illustrated in Fig. 1 ;'Fig. 3 isadetail of the mechanism for lowering the sound box on its return to its initial posi 45 tion; and Fig. 4 is-a side elevation, partially broken away, of the instrument shown in Fig.1.

In the drawings, for illustrative purposes, I have shown the various features of 50 my invention embodied in a multiple record phonograph (Figs. 1 to 4), employing a series of record cylinders 64 which may be of any usual or ordinary type.

'lheterm phonograph I herein employ record holders in horizontal alinement.

' The record holder may be made of any desired length or capacity, or, if desired,-

may be made in sectional lengths and added one to another as increased capacity is Wanted. l

7 Between the playing of one record and the subsequent playing of the next, the holder is shifted one step forward upon the roller sup ports to bring the next record in approximate operative position and to withdraw the preceding record therefrom. For this purpose there is provided any suitable moving mechanism, the same, herein, however, consisting simply of the weight, W, which is connected to the cord 0 (Fig 4) passing over the pulley c, and'fastened to the base of the holder at 0 near its rear end. This constantly acts to draw the holder forward and, by cobperating with looking and positioning devices which intefinittently release the holder, the latter is fed forward at appropriate intervals Lthrough a step by step movement. v

The holder is positioned by means of an underlying lockingbar 6 attached by hangers I), to the under side of the base, which bar is provided twith apertures I), placed at intervals corresponding to theintervals separating the successive records in the holder. When the holder is moved to bring the record in proximity to its operative position, the aperture 6 is entered by the end ofa positioning rod d, which stops further movement of the holder andthere retains it until the said rod is withdrawn. This rod is withdrawn after a record has been played by any suitable automatic means. illustrative of one way of accomplishing this I have shown the electro-magnet E, located beneath the holder in a substantially central position. On the completion of the playing'of a record, this magnet is energized through means hereinafter described, causingthe attraction of its armature e, attachedj'to the sliding rod 6', said armature being normally held away from the poles of the magnet by the compression spring The opposite end of the sliding armature rod is jointed to the upright lever d, pivoted on the machine frame so that the described movementaof the armature causes this lever to engage with of the holder used. :I have hereinshown the supporting and rotary meanscombined in perating rotatable end supports, f and". f. Hereinth'ese areslidabl mounted with f the collar d ;,upon' the locking rod (Z, Withdrawing'thelatter fromthe aperture in the a docking bar I), freeing the holder for advance movement.

, [Referring now more particularly to the means for supporting and rotating the records: the same, may be constructed; in van- 011s ways, having regard to the type of records employedor the shape or construction and upon spindles f, f, or longitudinal movementytoward and awaylfrom the ends of the record and are bellsshaped in form,

slightly'rdunded atthe ends, and so formed that they'mayreadily enterthe open endsof thei reeerdsleeves and, while 1i ing the record -free',;-from its holder and f alining "it in its'a-operating -positionf by the enforced wedging actiom-alsoclasp t e. record at its ends, so fa' s' -rotatably to hold it for cobperation withthe sound box which islowered.

at the appropriate time into bperative relation thereto,

however, being journaledin the frame Where shown and also upon an exterior arm not visible in Fig. l,-and being provided with ball thrust bearings F. To the driving sleeve is secured the fly wheel f, upon which is formed the driving pulley 7 which has connection by a belt with any suitable source of driving power, the fly wheel tending to keep constant the speed of rotation of the support f, while being clutched. to and unclutched from successive records and tend- ,ing therefore to start up the new record stantly at its normal speed.

' "The outer end of the driving sleeve carries the-grooved collar f which is attached'to the spindle f? bya pin working in a slot inthe sleeve, so that. the collar turns withthe latter but ma be'mo ved longitudinally to-cause longitu inal-movement of the end support. jflhe spindle f- .for the opposite end Support :f'- v being also slidably and rotatably mountedin the frame, has the grooved collar fi securedjthereto, by which with, t gmqves of' thew'collars 'f d' f respectively are eflgagedjtheyoke levers. .7

1t may also-"bef-given sliding movement.

and f}, the former-pivoted 'atf upon the islnormallyi'drawn by theadjustable tension -frame, and the? latterlat f, The lever f spring fFflK te nove the end support inwardly towa'rd the recordvend. When the 'magnet E is energized, howey er, and the end 'ofthe'latch rod d withdrawnfrom the locking bar bfithe opposite end of the rod engages the lever f and forces is in, the opposite direction, withdrawing the end support f, from the open end; of the record. Simultaneously the other, end support f is therecord by swinging movement of-the pivoted lever f which, at its lowerend, is attached to the armature ve. by the short link It will, therefore-,be clear that on the ene 'zation bf the magnet E and release of the older for" its advance movement,- each end 'suppo siinultaneou'slyjwithdrawn freeing the restoring it to theholder by it to gravitate .toits withdrawn from the opposite open end of seat thereon. During advance of the holder, I

the end supports" are held sufliciently retracted to clear the record ends by-the action of the locking bar; b, the face'of which slides along the end of the locking rod d, pressing the' l-latter back and holding both end supports withdrawn until the next aperture is reached and the next record brought III it free from its support and there rota-tablyhold it in alinement for the cooperating action of the sound box.

The sound-box G, stylus, and other part connected therewith, may be of any suitable ;;or usual construction and the same are acfcordingly, notshown and illustrated in detail.

, j The sound boii, however, is supported upon an arni g, attached to a sleeve 9, the

, latter having slidingmoyement upon therod .9 .For thefforward of reproducing movefament of the so11nd-box,/'there is provided the u n derlying -fine' threaded feed screw 9 which is adapted to. engage with the nut g",

attached to the under side of the arm 9.

-frarne thereof. This cam shelf has lthefarm h (Fig. 4) linked to the lever h the latter 40 For the return movement of the sound-box, there is provided the over-lying coarse threaded feed screw 9 adapted to engage with the nut g, upon the upper side of the arm 9. These screws are given constant rotatix e' movement'through suitable gearing (not shown) driven from the sleeve f During the playing of the record the arm is depressed, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, and through engagement with its nut g with the screw 9 is fed gradually toward the end of the record. When the sound-box reaches the desired point in its travel, it is automatically lifted by movement of the cam shelf k, which extends the width of the machine, and is eccent'rically mounted in the pivoted at k and connected with the armature h of a magnet H, which is energized to attract its armature and lift the cam shaft when the playing of the record is completed.

,The, lifting of the sound-box disengages the nut g from the forward feed screw 9 and causes engagement of the nut g"v with the coarse threaded return screw 9 when this takes place, the sound-box, with its attached arm thereupon, reverses its movementand travels toward its initial position, being held, in its elevated position during its travel thereto by the cam shelf 72 The magnets H and E may be energized I in any suitable .way, but preferably energization is effected by a contact maker carried by the sound-box'or its arm. In Fig. 2 I have shown the contact. maker 7' adjustably carried by the arm (1 and adapted to engage with the movable resilient contact j, to

force the same against the stationary contact 7' to close a circuit (not shown) throu h which current is supplied toenergize the two magnets H andE. The moment this takes place, which will be'whenj re roduction of the record has been completed, the sound box is instantly elevated and starts on its return movement, while the record, released from its end supports, is restored to the holder and the latter advances one step to present a fresh record, which in turn is engaged by the end holders and alined in preparation forthe return of the sound-box.

The cam shelf h is locked in its elevated position by the pin A; carried by the spring pressed swinging arm k; the pin in entering a corresponding depression injt'he machine frame. The shelf, therefore, remains in this position until the sound-box approaches its initial position, when, at the appropriate time, the arm 9 engages the upright end of served that the cylindrical records require no supporting mandrels, but that when played they are supported by the rotatable end supports, which act also to free them from the holder. that the wedging action of the end supports effects not only a lifting or freeing of the record from the holder and a driving engagement between the rotary support and the record but also an automatic centering or alining of the record with reference to its desired axisIof rotation whichnaturally follows fromthe shape of. the-supportsf and f.

If desired," the individual records might be provided each with a usual or suitable mandrel support, and the record'be freed from itsholder. by the engagement of the end supports with the mandrel rather than the record directly. Where such mandrels are employed, it is also within my invention to rest the individual records each in the holder by causing the mandrel instead of the record tobe held loosely by the holder, the mandrel-and record, however,

being preferably freed-therefrom when engaged by the end support or supports. 3

a-wholly movable-magazine or one whic 1 is 3 partly stationary and partly movable, or whether it consists of a partly or wholly flexible carrier such as a link or chain holder or holders.

So .far as I am aware, I to provide a phonograph havinggja record rest,

a'stylus, and means for gripping and rotating a record in operative relation to the stylus, the said means also operatmg'to free the record from its rest, and I desire to 1 It will also be observedrecord from its rest.

claim the same broadly, it being evident that the recordmay be of the cylindrical, disk or other form.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention in detail, and have referred to its application to a particular type of machine and a particular class of records, it is to befunderstood that the same is not. limited. "in its application to such a machine and such records only or to the details or relative a i'rangement of parts disclosed, but that wi'de departures therefrom may be made without deviating from the spirit of the invention.

1. A phonograph having record holding means for loosely holding a record and record rotating means for engaging the record and shifting it from the holder into operative position. i f

.2. A. phonograph having a record rest, a

stylus, and means for gripping and rotating a record in operative relation to" the stylus, the said means also operating to free the 3. A multi plerecord phonographhaving record holding means wherein the record shells rest upon their faces and record," rotating means for successively engaging the several records and shifting each into an operative position. 4. A multiple phonograph havingrecord engaging means for engaging individual" records and rotating the same relatively to a sound box stylus, holding means for loosely holding a plurality of'records, said records resting in the holding means on their outside faces, and means for moving said holding means relatively to the engaging means to bring the records individually within the action of the latter.

5. A multiple record phonograph having a stylus means for engaging and supporting a cylindrical record while the latter is engaged by said stylus means for loosely holding a plurality of such records, said records resting in the holding means on their outside faces, and for presenting the same while in said holding means to the action of said engaging and supporting means.

6. A multiple record phonograph having stylus mechanism,-means for holding cylindrical records loosely Whll6 resting on their outside faces, andizmearis for moving a rec ord transverse to,,the axisof record rotation for presenting it to the stylus mechanism.

7. A phonograph employing a cylindrical recordv and. having a 'pair of tapered end supports and means for causing them automatically to enter andv engage with the opposite open ends of the record.

8. A multiple record phonograph employing cylindrical records and having record holding means, meansifor engaging the individual records, and shifting the same from the record holding means each record being supported solely by said record engaging.

" means 'when in operative position. v 9. A multiple record phonograph e1nploying cylindrical records having holding means for loosely holding a plurality of records, means for presenting said records in operative relation to the sound reproducing or sound recording" mechanism, oppo:

sitely' movable end engaging devices for engaging the ends of said records and freeing them from the holding means.

10. A multiple record phonograph havi ing a-holder for loosely holding a plurality of records and an axially movable bellshaped record support adapted to enter the for holding a plurality of records, means to 3 present them successively in operative position and a commonv movable support for said records when inoperative-position adaptedby its movement to receive said records for rotation and shift them from the holder.

. 12. A multiple record phonograph; having means for holding a plurality of records and presenting them successively in operative position and tapered end-engaging means for engaging the end of a record thus presented.

13. A multiple record phonograph have ing means for holding a plurality of cylindrical record shells, and record supporting and shifting means engaging directly with the walls of the record shells to place and -maintain successive records in operative position.

I 14. stylus mechanism, means for loosely hold ing a plurality of cylindrical records said records resting upon their sides'in' said holding means, and means for successively presenting said records to the stylus anechanism and causing rotation thereof;while suplported at the end walls of the record she s.

A multiple record phonograph havingv 15. A multiple record phonograph have ing a rotatable. record support, a series of records and supporting -means causing travel of the individual members of the series in sufficient proximity to said supholder to bring said shells successively into an approxinnlte operative means engaging with the walls of the record shells to lift them above the holder to an exact operative position.

18. A multiple record phonograph having record holding means in which the record shells are held loosely. means for bringing successive records into an approximate operative position. and means engaging with the walls of the record shells for freeing the same from said holding means and permitting rotation thereof without substantial change in position.

19. A phonograph having recordholding means on which the reeordshell rests loosely upon its outer face. and record-rotating means for engaging and shifting therecord.

:20. A multiple phonograph having a boxlike holder, a plurality of records loosely position and held therein, and means for engaging the record and freeing it from the holder with-' out substantial longitudinal displacement.

21. A multlple record phonograph having record-holding means, and means engaging 5 the walls of the record for freeing the same from the holder without substantial longitudinal displacement relatively to the holder.

22. A multiple record phonograph having IECOI'LlllOlillflQ means, and means to engage 30 a record and lift it slightly above the holder to free the same from the holder without substantial lateral displacement th refrom.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence as 

